Railway-signal.



R. SKALIGKY -& F. MIKULKA.- RAILWAY SIGNAL. 12211101121011 FILED MAY 31, 1911.

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Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

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R'. SKALICKY & F. MIKULKA. RAILWAY $IGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

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RICHARD SKALIGKY AND FRANZ MIKULKA, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD SKALIoKY and FRANZ MIKULKA, both residing at Vienna, in Austria- Hungary, oflicials and subjets ofEmperor of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for preventing railway accidents both inside and outside stations arising from errors by which line free is signaled to an entering or departing train while the track to be occupied by such train after passing a switch is already occupied.

The invention provides apparatus whereby the movement of an electrically actuated signal to indicate line free is automatically prevented unless the track in the station is unoccupied and the track switches are properly adjusted and electromagnetically locked.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of part of the control apparatus and the tracks leading to the station, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the remaining part of the same apparatus and tracks.

In the drawing, A represents the main line, and A A A are three branch tracks leading in parallel from said main line into the station.

S is an electromagnetically controlled signal, and Z7, 6 are switches enabling trains to be directed to the tracks A A and A respectively. Switches a,, a a,, at the station control three branches 1, 2, 3, of the electric circuit S whereby the signal S can be adjusted to indicate line free These switches a,, a 00,, are severally intended to operate the signal for indicating line tree for entrance to the tracks A A A respectively, that is to say the branches 1, 2, 3, are circuits which can be alternatively used for actuating the signal. The said branch circuits 1, 2, 3, lead through the track switches 5, 5 which have electric contacts 4, 5, so disposed that the electric circuit can only be closed by the closing of the switches a,, a a if the tract switches ,are properly adjusted for entrance to the respective tracks A A A Electromagnetic locking devices R lock the rail switches 12, b when Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1911.

Patented A11 29, 1911.

Serial No. 630,433.

the latter are so adjusted and the signal controlling circuit is closed. Each of the tracks A A A has an insulated electric conductor arranged so that when a train runs on to the track said conductor is connected to earth through the train. In the example illustrated, this insulated conductor is one of the rails, as at w, y, a, the connection to earth being made through the wheels and axles of the train, and the other rail.

When the track switches 6, F, are adjusted for the entrance of a train to one of the tracks the circuit setting the signal at line free is made from the battery Q through whichever of the switches a 6a,, or a, is closed, through the respective circuit 1, 2 or 3 for the closed switch and through its connected conductor 1 ,2 or 3 From the conductor 1 the circuit is made through contacts 1 and from the conductors 2 and 3 the circiut is made through contacts4 and the adjacent switch lock R and conductor 11 through the contacts 4- From the contacts 4 said circuit is made through the adjacent switch lock R, conductor 12, armature 13 and conductor 14 which leads to the signal S, and from the signal S the current returns through a conductor 15, through the bell B and loop sch and conductor 19 to the battery.

The conductor st is connected to the battery Q, which serves the controlling circuit S but also has an earth-connected shunt. The conductor st includes the coil of an electromagnet switch m, which controls the cir cuit S and breaks said circuit if the circuit comprising the conductor st is closed by the presence of a train on the track for which the track switches are set. At the same time the switch m closes the circuit 10 of an electromagnet device 0 by which the signal is moved to the stop position. The track circuit passes from the battery Q to conductor st, to magnet m, to the track rail 21, thence through the connections indicated at Z) and b by dotted lines to whichever track the switch is set for and from that track to the ground and through the ground back to the battery Q.

Between the signal and the tracks A A", A", an emergency track D is branched off the main line, a switch m being provided for deflecting the train on to this emergency track if the train over-runs the signal when the latter is at stop. The signal mechanism is connected to the switch m so that it automatically sets the same for deflection, when the electromagnetic device 0 is actuated for setting the signal at stop.

A prolongation of the conductor st is connected at e to one of the rails of the track D, said rail being insulated from the earth but connected to a contact 0 on the rod of the track switch m WVhen the latter is set for entrance to the track D the contact 0 connects the conductor st to a third rail 8. lVhen a locomotive L approaches the signal a contact 6 carried by it contacts with the rail 8. The contact if is connected to one terminal of an electromagnetic device n, in the locomotive, the other terminal of which is connected through the wheels toearth. If, therefore, the signal isat stop and the switch m is set for entrance to the emergency track D, the electromagnet device 71 receives current from the battery Q. The device a may give an audible signal (bell, whistle, etc.) or may initiate application of the brakes. The circuit S has a loop sch leading to an electric bell or equivalent indicating device-B at the station, so that evidence as to the position of the signal S is always available at the station.

In order that the circuit setting the signal at line free is automatically broken when a train has passed the signal, which circuit has hereinbefore been traced, an insulated section 21 of the main track, between the signal and the first track switch, is connected by a conductor 20 to the conductor 82?, and the conductor 20 includes the coil of an electromagnetic switch m 7 When a train bridges the rail sections 21 and 21 the current passes through the wheels and the body of the car onto the opposite rail whereby the circuit passes to the earth and the conductor 20 is connected to the earth, the other earth connection of the circuit being a shunt Q, at the battery Q. Upon the grounding of the rail 21, the current'passes through the conductor s25, energizes the magnet m, onto armature 18 to the rail 21 and so to earth as before described. The energization of the magnet draws its armature 13 into engagement with the contact 16 of one of the conductor wires of the circuit of conductor 10 which closes such circuit; This circuit is from the battery Q by the path already traced through the lock R to the armature 13, thence through conductor 10, magnet 0 and conductors l7 and 19 to battery Q. Upon this circuit being closed the magnet 0 will be energized which will close the switch m and move the signal to stop position. Should a train pass the signal while it is in stop position, the closed switch m will switch the train onto the emergency track D. 1

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination of a railway signal, electro-magnetic means for actuating the same, said actuating means comprising two alternative actuating circuits, two railway tracks forming a junction, a track switch at the junction of said tracks, and electric contact devices one in each of the actuating circuits and operated by said track switch to open one when the other is closed, whereby each of said circuits is available for actuation only when the track switch is in a pre determined position in relation'to the two tracks.

2. The combination of a railway signal,

.electromagnetic means for actuating same,

said actuating means comprising two alternative actuating circuits, two railway tracks forming a junction, a track switch at the junction of said tracks, an electric contact device operated by said track switch to open one circuit when the other is closed, so that each of said circuits is available for actuation of the signal only when the track switch is in a predetermined position in relation to the two tracks, an electromagnetic device for breaking said signalactuating circuits, two track circuits including said circuit breaking device, one track circuit for each track, adapted to be closed by the presence of trains on the respective tracks, and an electric contact device operated by the track switch to close one track circuit and open the other so as to alternatively throw said circuit breaking device into operative relation to either of said track circuits, according as the track switch is set for entrance to either of said tracks.

3. The combination of a railway signal, electro-magnetic means for actuating the same, the circuit of said electro-magnetic means having two branches, a railway track, a track switch, the track having a portion thereof between said signal and said switch, an electric contact device in both branches of said circuit operated by said track switch to open one branch when the other is closed, a circuit controlling switch in each branch, an electromagnetic device controlling the circuit of said electromagnetic signal actuating means, a track circuit connected to the electromagnetic device and adapted to be closed by the passage of a train onto said track.

In witness whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD SKALIGKY. FRANZ MIKULKA.

Vitnesses HANS PAPPENHEIM, AUeUs'r FUGGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

